Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

A family of five from Fresno, California, was treated to a five-day dream vacation in Crested Butte with the Adaptive Sports Center in early January as part of a recent episode of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Mary Ann Riojas and her four teenagers, Nichole (18), Victoria (17), Angel (15), and Jessie (14), were nominated and ultimately selected for the show based on the numerous safety hazards Mary Ann faced on a daily basis getting around her home in a wheelchair. Mary Ann, a former foster care child and welfare recipient, was born with no legs and one fully-developed arm. She now works as an Ambassador for the Easter Seals and as an advisor with the Housing Authority, counseling struggling families who need to find housing.

The entire Riojas family was whisked away to Crested Butte to spend time skiing and snowboarding with the Adaptive Sports Center while their house was demolished and renovated by the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team and thousands of volunteers to be completely wheelchair accessible.

This is the second time in two years that the Adaptive Sports Center has been seen on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. In Winter 2007, Patrick and Jeanette O’Donnell and their six children, five of whom have autism, enjoyed a five-day vacation with the ASC while their home was remodeled. When show producers learned that the Riojas family had a winter getaway in mind, they contacted the ASC to see about bringing a second family out to Crested Butte. The ASC was honored to play host to the show once again, especially when we learned that other than Disneyland, producers had not sent an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition family to any other vacation location more than once in the history of the show!

From the time the Riojas family stepped off the plane in Gunnison to the morning they left Crested Butte, it was clear that this was a family that thrived in a winter climate. Angel went from marveling at seeing snow for the first time in the airport parking lot on that first day, to showing off his natural ability to snowboard by the end of the trip. The whole family was all smiles and full of enthusiasm as each new winter activity was introduced: dog-sledding, a snowy horse-drawn carriage ride down Crested Butte’s main street, snowmobiling, and of course, skiing and snowboarding. Not surprisingly, more than one family snowball fight ensued over the course of their visit.

Mary Ann, we were told ahead of time, loved the thrill and speed of riding motorcycles, so we suspected snowmobiling and skiing would be right up her ally. We were right! On the first day she arrived, Mary Ann was outfitted by ASC instructors with a Bi-Unique sit-ski and a custom elbow brace with a handheld outrigger attachment, along with one full outrigger [outriggers are handheld devices for sit-skiers that provide balance and allow them to initiate turns]. Mary Ann skied the Bi-Unique with a good amount of independence on the mountain’s beginner and intermediate terrain, and enjoyed skiing alongside—and sometimes faster—than her children. It is inclusive family experiences like these that the ASC prides itself on offering to people with disabilities and their families.

When they weren’t playing in the snow, the family was out and about taking in many of Crested Butte’s wonderful restaurants, sightseeing and enjoying their spacious suites at The Lodge in Mountaineer Square, located in the heart of Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s base area. It was a magical vacation in all respects.

The Riojas’ visit to the ASC went by fast, and when it was time to say goodbye, the staff felt attached – as with so many of the individuals and families who come through our doors. We loved getting to know this truly inspirational family and watching them transform from city slickers to nature-loving thrill-seekers in a matter of days. We hope to see the Riojas family back on the slopes with the ASC next winter, or better yet, out in Crested Butte again this summer. Stay tuned!

The Adaptive Sports Center would like to thank those who made the Riojas family trip to Crested Butte so special: Izzy’s, Lucky Cat Dog Farm, Action Adventures Snowmobiles, Maxwells, Crested Butte Nordic Center, Secret Stash, The Slogar and Flatiron Sports.

We would especially like to thank Crested Butte Mountain Resort for generously providing lodging and meals for the Riojas family and Outdoor Research for outfitting the family head-to-toe in winter clothing.

Describe the whole experience of being sent off on a dream vacation and having your house rebuilt all at the same time.
Being whisked off to vacation was exciting. I knew when we came back home, we would come back to something bigger and beautiful. Even in my wildest imagination I would have not have imagined what I came back to. I was speechless. The vacation alone changed us because we got to experience something together as a family. For once I didn’t have to sit and watch the kids doing something – I was able to do it alongside them.

What has been the reaction when you tell people in Fresno about your vacation in Crested Butte?
People have asked me, “Why would they send you to the snow?” People just couldn’t fathom me skiing. I explained to them that we visited the Adaptive Sports Center and that I actually went skiing! Here in Fresno everything is so fast-paced and all about computers and TVs. There it was laidback and calm. It is nice to know there are places that are so relaxing. People were blown away when they heard people don’t have TVs there. Why would you have a TV when you have so many things to do!

When you told the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition producers that your family would prefer a vacation in the snow while your house was being rebuilt, what were you imagining?
I had never been to the snow. I pictured being in the snow but not being able to ski. It was way above what I imagined it to be like. The staff was so professional and knowledgeable about my disability. I thought I would go to the snow and not necessarily participate in an activity.

What were some of the highlights of your time in Crested Butte?
The views, definitely, and the skiing. I had so much fun just being able to do something with the kids and do something faster than them! I went really fast! The dog sledding, the snowmobiling… all the activities we did.

What was it like to go skiing for the first time?
I never thought I would ever go skiing in my life. I felt like I was actually able to participate in something. It was a lot of fun. Being up in the mountains and skiing down, and controlling the way I wanted to go… I felt like I was free, that I could go anywhere I wanted to go. I felt independent. To just enjoy myself out there was really cool.

What other sports do you participate in?
When I was younger, I did skateboarding. I swim when I have access to a pool. I also ride a bike, it’s a three wheeler. I plan on becoming more active.

How did the kids react to their vacation in the snow?
Every time they talk about it now, they smile ear to ear. They talk about how much fun they had, even though they fell [skiing and snowboarding] so many times!

Of your four teenagers, Angel seemed the most addicted to snowboarding while he was here. Does he have plans to snowboard again?
As soon as we got back to Fresno, he tried to convince me to buy him a board. It was on his must-have list. He is already planning for next winter.

Do you have any other comments about your experiences in Crested Butte?
I would like to thank everyone for helping us create experiences that we will remember forever. The Adaptive Sports Center staff was great and the whole town was so welcoming to us.

View a photo gallery of the Riojas family’s adventures with the Adaptive Sports Center.

The Adaptive Sports Center relies on generous donors like you to make our programs affordable and available to all who have the desire to participate. Please consider making a secure, tax-deductible PayPal donation to the ASC so that other wonderful families like the Riojas’ may experience the freedom and life-changing effects provided by outdoor adventure activities.